Boulder police Deputy Chief David Hayes will become the new Louisville police chief, officials said Friday, making him the latest in a wave of new chiefs to take over across Boulder County.

Hayes is the Boulder Police Department's deputy chief of operations and is a 33-year veteran of the department. He is also a 26-year resident of Louisville and first started his law enforcement career as a Louisville patrol officer in 1977.

"I don't just live there; it's where I started my career," Hayes said. "It's a return home for me, both professionally and personally. It's a great opportunity to work so close to home, but more importantly than that it's a great group of people."

The city received more than 45 applications for the position.

Louisville City Manager Malcolm Fleming said in a statement that he's "very pleased to welcome Dave back" to the department.

"His experience, approach and leadership skills make him a great fit for the department," Fleming said. "In addition, Dave's personal knowledge of Louisville will serve him well as chief of police."

Hayes will replace longtime Louisville police Chief Bruce Goodman, who announced his retirement at the beginning of the year after almost 21 years as chief.

"Those are some big shoes to fill," Hayes said. "Louisville already has a good police department; it can only go up from here."

Hayes said he would like to see his officers work more with schools and with senior centers to engage both the younger and older residents of Louisville.

He also said he would like to see more calls handled from start to finish by the officers who respond, and he will take with him some advice from Boulder police Chief Mark Beckner.

"To quote Mark, 'One call at a time,'" Hayes said.

Beckner said Hayes is an outstanding cop and has a head start because he already knows most of the players in the county.

"He's an outstanding person — highly ethical and very committed," Beckner said. "He's committed his entire career to the job and always gives 110 percent."

'A Boulder police flavor'

When Hayes takes over April 28, he will be one of four new police chiefs in Boulder County in the past two years, joining Erie's Marc Vasquez, the University of Colorado's Melissa Zak and Nederland's Jim Matheney. They will be joined by a fifth new police chief after Beckner retires as Boulder's chief at the end of this month.

Like Hayes, many of the police chiefs in the county also got their start with the Boulder Police Department. In addition to Hayes and the internal hire who takes over for Beckner, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and Longmont police Chief Mike Butler also hail from the Boulder police force.

"The county is going to really have a Boulder police flavor to it," Beckner said. "This is where those people learned to be administrators and managers. We're very proud of that. We have a legacy of people who are capable of leading other agencies."

Hayes said while many of them come from the same department, they still all bring different strengths and ideas to the mix.

"I may be biased, but I think Boulder County law enforcement is in great shape," Hayes said. "We all bring different experiences to the table, but we still respect each other.

"I can't say enough about the great group of chiefs in Boulder County."

'He's carried the torch'

Although Hayes is excited to start in Louisville, he will be leaving the department where he has worked for more than 30 years.

Beckner said Hayes became his deputy chief just a few months into Beckner's years as chief, and over those 16 years the two worked closely together.

"He's been a great help to me over the years," Beckner said. "He's helped me get through the good times and the bad times."

Hayes may best be known as the lead detective in the murder of Sid Wells on Aug. 1, 1983. Hayes had the case from the beginning, and even as deputy chief continued to lead the investigation through the day an arrest warrant was finally issued for Thayne Smika in 2010. Smika remains at large.

"There is no question without his tenacity, there never would have been an approval of a warrant in that case," said Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett. "It's a real testament to how thorough and tenacious he is. I'm looking forward to working with him as the chief of the Louisville Police Department."

Added Beckner, "He's carried the torch on that from the beginning, and he never allowed that case to die or go away."

Wells, 22, was about to enter his senior year at the University of Colorado when he was shot and killed in his Spanish Towers condominium.

Wells' mother, June Menger, of Longmont, said from the beginning Hayes made sure she knew how the case was progressing and still to this day checks in with her and her family.

"He stayed by our side all these years," Menger said. "I know he did everything he possibly could. He's been an inspiration to us."

Hayes said the case is an experience he will take with him and use as a police chief.

"That's definitely a memory I will carry with me for a long time, and it won't end until we find Mr. Smika," he said.

But the Wells case is just one of many experiences from Boulder that Hayes will be taking back home to Louisville.

"I remember my first day at work, my first assignment — it all went by pretty fast," he said. "I'm nervous and excited and sad to leave. At the same time, I'm looking forward to a chance to learn and grow in a comfortable environment and get to meet a whole new group of friends and community members."

One of his biggest fans said she knows Hayes will do well there.

"I'm proud of him," Menger said. "He'll make a great police chief. Louisville is lucky to have him."

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